Playing Card Cups

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a set of playing card cups, wherein at least one of the playing card cups comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup&#39;s user.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/202,977 filed Aug. 10, 2015 and entitled “Playing Card Cups,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention relate in general to an apparatus that comprises a set of playing card cups, wherein at least one of the playing card cups comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D depict two views each of two different playing card cups.

FIG. 2 depicts a view of a playing card cup comprising a first, image side, the image side comprising an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user, the playing card cup further comprising a second, opposite side that does not comprise an image of a playing card.

FIGS. 3A-3D depict two views each of two different playing card cups, wherein the playing card cup comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the following description and in the several figures of the drawings, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.

Embodiments of the invention relate in general to a set of playing card cups, wherein at least one of the playing card cups comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user. For example, each playing card cup comprises an image of a unique playing card. For example, each playing card cup comprises an image of a unique playing card selected from a standard deck of 52 playing cards.

For example, one of the playing card cups may comprise an image of the four of spades. The person using the four of spades cup needs only to remember the card corresponding to his or her cup. There is no need to find a marker, to mark his or her name on the cup, to scratch one's name in a template, and so on, as is typically required by the prior art. This is a simple, elegant solution, valid for groups of up to 54 persons, to elegantly and easily identify a user of a cup. For example, the apparatus is configured to elegantly and easily identify the user without need for a writing implement. For example, the apparatus does not comprise a writing implement.

Further embodiments of the invention relate to the set of playing card cups, wherein at least one of the playing card cups comprises an image of a specific playing card, the playing card image being usable in a playing card game. For example, the playing card image comprised in the playing card cup may be used similarly to how the corresponding playing card would be used in a standard playing card game. For example, the playing card game comprises one or more of hearts, bridge, poker, solitaire, double solitaire, old maid, crazy eights, go fish, rummy, and another card game.

Typically, although not necessarily, one side of the cup comprises the image of the specific playing card, with another side of the cup not comprising the image of the specific playing card. For example, an image side of the cup is on an opposite side of the cup from an opposite side of the cup. For example, the image side of the cup and the opposite side of the cup are approximately 180 degrees apart.

Accordingly, the identity of an opposing player's card may be concealed from other players by facing the opposite side of the cup toward the other players.

FIGS. 1A-1D depict two views each of two different playing card cups, wherein the playing card cup comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user. FIG. 1A depicts a perspective view of a playing card cup 110 comprising an image 120 of an ace of spades. FIG. 1B depicts a front view of the playing card cup 110 comprising the image 120 of an ace of spades. FIG. 1C depicts a perspective view of a playing card cup 130 comprising an image 140 of a four of clubs. FIG. 1D depicts a front view of the playing card cup 130 comprising the image 140 of a four of clubs.

FIG. 2 depicts a view of a playing card cup 210 comprising a first, image side 220, the image side 220 comprising an image 230 of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user, the playing card cup 210 further comprising a second, opposite side 240 that does not comprise an image of a playing card. The depicted cup comprises an image side 210 that comprises an image 220 of the ace of spades.

For example, the opposite side comprises no image. For example, the opposite side is blank. For example, the opposite side comprises an advertisement. For example, the opposite side is located approximately 180 degrees from the side comprising the image of the specific playing card.

In this example, one side of the cup comprises the image of the specific playing card, with another side of the cup not comprising the image of the specific playing card.

According to embodiments of the invention, a set of playing card cups is provided, at least one of which comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user, wherein the playing card cup comprises an image of a specific playing card usable in a playing card game. For example, each of the playing card cups comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user, wherein each cup comprises an image of a specific playing card usable in a playing card game. For example, each of the playing card cups comprises an image of a different playing card.

For example, at least one of the 52 standard playing card playing card cups comprises an image of a standard-deck playing card. Preferably, each of the 52 card playing card cups comprises an image of a standard-deck playing card that does not appear on any of the other playing card cups. Preferably, therefore, the 52 standard playing card playing card cups comprise an image of each playing card in a standard 52-card playing deck, with each playing card image comprised in a different playing card cup.

For example, the set of playing card cups comprises a set of 54 playing card cups. For example, the set of 54 playing card cups comprises 52 standard playing card playing card cups, a first joker playing card cup, and a second joker playing card cup, wherein the second joker is different from the first joker.

For example, the first joker comprises a big joker. For example, the second joker comprises a small joker. For example, the big joker has larger dimensions than the small joker.

FIGS. 3A-3D depict two views each of two different playing card cups, wherein the playing card cup comprises an image of a specific playing card configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user. FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of a playing card cup 310 comprising an image 320 of a big joker. FIG. 3B depicts a front view of the playing card cup 310 comprising the image 320 of a big joker. FIG. 3C depicts a perspective view of a playing card cup 330 comprising an image 340 of a small joker. FIG. 3D depicts a front view of the playing card cup 330 comprising the image 340 of a small joker.

For example, at least one image comprises a photograph of a playing card. For example, at least one image comprises a drawing of a playing card. For example, at least one image comprises an image of a playing card other than a photograph and other than a drawing. For example, some of the playing card cups comprise drawings of a playing card, and other playing card cups comprise photographs of a playing card. For example, each image comprises a photograph of a playing card. For example, each image comprises a drawing of a playing card.

For example, one side of at least one playing card cup is left blank. For example, one side of at least one playing card cup is left blank, for use in playing card games such as poker and bridge in which the identities of one player's playing cards needs to be concealed from the opposing player.

For example, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the number of variations of the cup designs, colors, location of the playing card images, and the like are virtually limitless. It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and shall not be interpreted in a limiting sense.

While the above representative embodiments have been described with certain components in exemplary configurations, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other representative embodiments can be implemented using different configurations and/or different components. For example, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the order of certain steps and certain components can be altered without substantially impairing the functioning of the invention.

The representative embodiments and disclosed subject matter, which have been described in detail herein, have been presented by way of example and illustration and not by way of limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form and details of the described embodiments resulting in equivalent embodiments that remain within the scope of the invention. It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and shall not be interpreted in a limiting sense. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: a set of playing card cups, wherein each playing card cup comprises exactly one image of a specific playing card selected from one of a standard deck of 52 playing cards, a first joker playing card cup, and a second joker playing card cup, wherein the second joker is different from the first joker, so as to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user, wherein at least one playing card image is usable in a playing card game.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus configured to elegantly and easily identify the cup's user without need for a writing implement.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus does not comprise a writing implement.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to elegantly and easily identify a user of a cup for a group of up to 54 persons.
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first joker card comprises a big joker.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second joker card comprises a small joker, and wherein the big joker has larger dimensions than the small joker.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first, image side of the cup comprises the image of the specific playing card, and a second, opposite side of the cup does not comprise the image of the specific playing card.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the image side of the cup is on an opposite side of the cup from the opposite side of the cup.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the image side of the cup and the opposite side of the cup are approximately 180 degrees apart.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cup is configured so that an opposing player's card may be concealed from other players by facing the opposite side of the cup toward the other players.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured for use in playing card games in which the identities of one player's playing cards needs to be concealed from an opposing player.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the card game comprises one or more of poker and bridge.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the opposite side comprises no image.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the opposite side is blank.
 19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the opposite side comprises an advertisement.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one image comprises one or more of a photograph of a playing card and a drawing of a playing card. 